January 10th 2017 - AUGUSTA, Ga. – Today the USGA, Masters Tournament and the PGA of America officially launched the 2018 Drive, Chip and Putt Championship by announcing the local qualifying schedule for the program's fifth year. The schedule includes dates and locations for participants to play in local qualifiers across the country with the opportunity to advance and earn an invitation to next year's National Finals at Augusta National Golf Club. The qualifying schedule is available here.

Online registration will also be available starting Wednesday, January 25, 2017.

The Drive, Chip and Putt Championship aims to help younger generations begin their lifelong connection with golf by providing a fun, interactive platform for participants of all skill levels. This free youth golf development initiative welcomes boys and girls ages 7-15 to participate in separate divisions in four age categories. Local qualifying will take place throughout all 50 states during the months of May, June, July and August. Top performers at the local level will advance through subregional and regional qualifiers at some of the country's best championship venues in July/August and September/October, respectively. The top 80 performers – 40 boys and 40 girls – will earn an invitation to the National Finals at Augusta National on Sunday, April 1, the eve of the 2018 Masters.

Expanding this year to 268 total sites, local qualifying will begin Saturday, May 6 at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. The breakdown and schedule of the 2018 Drive, Chip and Putt Championship qualifying is as follows:

Stage 1: Local Qualifying (May/June/July/August)

268 host sites spread throughout all 50 states

3 juniors advance in each age/gender category from every venue

Stage 2: Subregional Qualifying (July/August)

53 host sites spread throughout 31 states

2 juniors advance in each age/gender category from every venue

Stage 3: Regional Qualifying (September/October)

10 host sites in 10 regions

1 junior advances in each age/gender category from every venue

Stage 4: National Finals (April 1, 2018)

80 total participants at Augusta National Golf Club

The regional qualifying events in September and October are set to take place at 10 championship host sites on the following dates:

September 3, 2017Pinehurst Resort (Site of the 2014 U.S. Open and 2014 U.S. Women's Open Championships)

September 9, 2017The Olympic Club (Site of the 2012 U.S. Open and 2021 U.S. Women's Open Championship)

September 16, 2017TPC Sawgrass (Site of THE PLAYERS Championship)

September 16, 2017Muirfield Village Golf Club (Site of the Memorial Tournament and 2013 Presidents Cup)

September 16, 2017Southern Hills Country Club (Site of the 2007 PGA Championship and the 2001 U.S. Open Championship)

September 17, 2017The Club at Carlton Woods (Site of the 2014 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship)

September 24, 2017The Honors Course (Site of the 2016 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship)

September 30, 2017Interlachen Country Club (Site of the 2008 U.S. Women's Open Championship)

September 30, 2017Torrey Pines (Site of the 2008 and 2021 U.S. Open Championships)

October 1, 2017Winged Foot Golf Club (Site of the 2006 and 2020 U.S. Open Championships)